Bladewerx SabreAlert²™

Portable Continuous Alpha Radiation Air Monitor

Features

• Weighs 5.9 lbs.

• 6-Hour battery life

• Uses alpha peak-shape-fitting for individual measurements of nuclide counts–significantly reducing false alarms

• Performs both fast-responding (Acute) and high-sensitivity (Chronic) measurements

• Automatically logs DAC, DAC-Hr and spectrum data

• Configure for one or two Isotopes of Interest in addition to radon progeny

• Can be plumbed to house vacuum or external pump for higher flow rates and improved sensitivity

• Acute and Chronic dose, concentration, and flow logging as well as spectrum logging

• Wireless 802.11b RadNet Output Option for remote monitoring

• Typical sensitivity of 1.0 DAC-h (Chronic) and 30 DAC-h (Acute) with less than one false alarm per 2080 hours of operation

• Radon Mode Option displays PAEC and also indicates radon progeny equilibrium

• Alarm light stack and Sonalert for alarm annunciation

• Source Response Check feature assures proper calibration before each use

•  American or SI units

Introduction

The Bladewerx SabreAlert2™ is a lightweight, battery-powered, alpha radiation air monitor that can be used as a portable workplace monitor or a portable CAM for emergency-response assessments. Using Bladewerx’ acclaimed peak-fitting software for radon-background subtraction means more accurate workplace measurement and alarm indications. A self-contained pump, built-in detector head, alarm light, sonalert and battery operation, allow the ultimate in alpha radiation air monitoring portability. A solid-state, ion-implanted, silicon radiation detector and reliable 1024-channel multi-channel analyzer provide the input for an iPAQ processor that performs the spectral analysis. An integrated 6-LPM pump, lithium-ion battery and charging electronics complete the package allowing battery operation of more than six hours.

The SabreAlert may be factory-configured for either the measurement of special nuclear materials (SNM), or for radon progeny measurements of potential alpha radiation energy concentration (PAEC).

Alpha Peak-Shape-Fitting
State-of-the-art alpha peak shape fitting is used to separate the spectrum into the contributions from its constituent nuclides and quantify the spectrum counts from radon progeny and one or two user-defined isotopes-of-interest. Alpha peak shape fitting is a technique that uses the profiles of multiple alpha radiation isotope peaks to create a composite curve which best fits the actual spectrum counts. Because the individual nuclide peaks are independently determined, the separation of nuclides is impervious to radon equilibrium changes and contributes to a very low probability of false alarms. Precise fitting of the ²¹⁸Po tail results in excellent sensitivity superior, in many cases, to instruments sampling at 40 LPM. To learn more about Bladewerx' Alpha Peak Shape Fitting - click here.

Remote Monitoring
With the 802.11 WiFi wireless RadNet Output Option installed, multiple SabreAlerts report their status and readings to a wireless access point, up to 300 feet away, networked with a laptop or PC workstation running Bladewerx RadNet Client software, or other RadNet compliant client software. This capability allows remote supervisory monitoring, in real-time, of up to ten work areas or vehicles.
 

Local Display Features
An integrated LCD and touch screen displays detailed information on the instrument status and readings while in operation. The dose estimate of the isotope(s) of interest and instrument status are prominently displayed at all times, while a window below either displays the historical readings and battery status, or displays the current spectrum. The user may switch between the two displays from the View menu.
 

Data Logging
The SabreAlert creates log files of both the Acute (from 1- to 30-second detail) and Chronic (1-minute detail) readings, along with spectrum log files at a user-defined interval. These log files may be saved in the internal memory, or stored on a removable SD memory card, for later retrieval and review. The log files use the comma-separated-variable (*.csv) format, recognized by most spreadsheet and database software.
 

Radon Mode Option
The SabreAlert may be factory-configured for a ‘Radon Mode’ where the instrument will monitor the potential-alpha-energy-concentration (PAEC) of airborne radon progeny. The display units can be configured for either American units of milli-Working Levels (mWL) and WL-h, or SI units of μJ/m³ and μJ-h/m³. Because the individual progeny concentrations are known, the effective (dis)equilibrium ratio of radon progeny can be determined and displayed. This feature can provide useful insights into the ‘age’ of the air sampled.
 

Sensitivity and Response Time
The sensitivity of the SabreAlert is dependent on several factors including, radon background, filter type, flow rate, acute and chronic window settings, and, of course, the energy of the radioactive isotope of interest. The chart below provides an example of typical MDD behavior for a window setting of 4-hours with a radon background of approximately 1.8 pCi/l.

Specifications

Part Number: BIN-SABR-ALT2

Sampling Head and Flow

• Radiation Detector: Solid-state ion-implanted silicon (450 mm² active area)

• Pump: diaphragm-type, 6.0 LPM (typical)

• Filter: 37 mm Speclon™ 1.5 μm PTFE membrane or compatible 37mm PTFE filter (25 mm collection area)

Data Analysis

• MCA: 1024-channel ADC binned to 256 channel spectrum

• Peak-fitting algorithm for ²¹⁴Po, ²¹⁸Po (Radon Mode also fits ²¹²Po and ²¹⁰Po) and two additional radionuclides (e.g. ²³⁹Pu)

• Acute (120 sec. window) and Chronic (240 min. window) sensitivities, plus net count rate alarm

• Processor: Windows CE-based PDA, 533 MHz Intel X-Scale processor

• Max Count Rate: 600,000 cpm

• Source Response Check diagnostic

• Calibration: Electro-plated stainless steel radioactive source required for efficiency calibration. 37mm diameter with 25mm active area. ²⁴¹Am or ²³⁹Pu recommended.

• Energy Range: 1.0 - 8.0 MeV (1.0 - 10 MeV in Radon Mode)

Physical

• Battery powered: 8.4 V Li-Ion, 4.1Ah (6 Hr run-time, 4-hour charge time)

• Weight: 5.9 lbs (2.7 kg)

• Dimensions: 9”w x 9”h x 4”d (24 x 24 x 10cm)

• Temperature: 0 to 122 °F (-20 to 50°C)

• Humidity: 5 to 100% (non-condensing)

• Splash/dust-proof enclosure

Options

• Wireless RadNet Output: BIN-ALT2-OPT1

• SI Units: BIN-ALT2-OPT2

• Radon Mode: BIN-ALT2-OPT3

• Delete internal pump: BIN-ALT2-OPT4

• RadNet Client software: BAC-RNCL-1

• 802.11b wireless access point: BPT-WAPB-1

• 802.11g wireless access point: BPT-WAPG-1

Consumables

• 1.5 μm pore Speclon filter: BSP-FILT-15B037

Spare Parts

• 4100 mA-h Li-Ion battery: BPT-LION-4100

• 6.0 LPM pump: BSP-PUMP-6L

• SabreMCA board: BSP-SMCA-A1

• Annunciator board: BSP-ANNUN-A1

• Sabre preamp board: BSP-PAMP-P1

• X-Scale board (pre-configured): BPT-IFT4-ALT

• Pump/Battery cable: BSP-CABL-1305

• Detector, 450 mm²: BPT-DETC-SD450

• AC adapter/charger (U.S.): BPT-ACADP-1222

Technical Information

• SabreAlert2 Data Sheet

• SabreAlert2 Manual

• Bladewerx Alpha Peak Shape Fitting

Other Bladewerx Products

• SabreBZM Alpha Radiation Breathing Zone Monitor

• SabreASC Alpha Radiation Sample Counter

• SabrePSC Portable Alpha Radiation Sample Counter

• SabreBPM Beta Radiation Particulate Air Monitor

• Speclon Filters